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Mbulelo Mpofu, [email protected] 

IT is no secret that the creative industry, like any other, is grappling with a growing sense of unease as the rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI) raises concerns about job displacement and artistic autonomy. 

While AI has proven to portend the potential to revolutionise the industry by streamlining processes, augmenting creativity and unlocking new possibilities, many creatives are instead fearing the worst.  With that background in view, TeXpo ‘24 has curated a four-day programme that will see creatives equipped with knowledge and skills on how they can incorporate AI in their daily work.

Today, the Zimbabwe Academy of Music in Bulawayo will host comic artist, TS Zombie (real name Tafadzwa Shumba), podcaster and film maker Nigel Ndlovu, animator Wayne Ndebele, US Embassy Cultural Affairs representative Butholezwe Nyathi and film expert Meluleki Dube as they delve on how creatives can use AI in their endeavours.

The discussion, moderated by Solomon Maramba will spotlight AI and probe how it can be used in the creative process.

Speaking to Chronicle Showbiz, one of the panellists, animator, Wayne Ndebele said he is going to share his insights on how he has been using AI. “My role in the discussion is my personal experience with AI in the making of my film, ‘Holder’. Holder emulates human speech patterns with precision, I used it to create the voices of each character.

“I have embraced AI in my film, as it has proven to advance my craft at a time when I had no one and couldn’t afford voice actors to assist in the making of the film that built my career. The movie is animated entirely with my own skill and creativity, but AI took over in voice acting. I did this by recording my own voice, but using AI to turn it into female and male voices, far different from mine to create a soulful and emotive flair.

“AI captured my voice, westernised it and deepened the voice to create the voice of a much older, darker man than myself and the main character, ‘Holder’ a westernised black girl. Hence, the acting aspect of ‘voice-acting’, which I couldn’t do myself, AI took care of it,” shared Ndebele.

Nigel Ndlovu

Another panellist, Nigel Ndlovu, founder of The VoiceKnot Podcast will teach the audience on how to be podcasters on a low budget.

It has been asserted that, other than embracing the assistive capabilities of AI, which could free creatives up to focus on high-level conceptual work, some are worrying that machines will replace human imagination and originality altogether. Such a fear is leading to a resistance to adoption, with some creatives refusing to explore the possibilities of AI-powered tools and collaborations.  — Follow on X @MbuleloMpofu